Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/189

 the Scripture Meaning, who undertood by it Candour, or the forming of a benevolent Opinion of our Brethren, and paing a favourable Judgment on their Actions; a Virtue much higher, and more extenive in its Nature, than a pitiful Ditribution of Alms, which, though we would never o much prejudice, or even ruin our Families, could never reach many; whereas Charity, in the other and truer Sene, might be extended to all Mankind.’

He aid, ‘Conidering who the Diciples were, it would be aburd to conceive the Doctrine of Generoity, or giving Alms, to have been preached to them. And, as we could not well imagine this Doctrine hould be preached by its divine Author to Men who could not practie it, much les hall we think it undertood o by thoe who can practie it, and do not.

‘But though, continued he, there is, I am afraid, little Merit in thee Benefactions; there would, I mut confes, be much Pleaure in them to a good Mind, if it was not abated by one Conideration. I mean, that we are liable to be impoed upon, and to confer our choicet Favours‘